The South Jersey Mean 15

1. Paulsboro -- The Red Raiders return just about everyone from last year’s 21-4 squad. The likes of Sam Morina, Juan Rivera and Ronnie Gentile provide the star power, and there is enough talent in the other weights for Paulsboro to challenge the best teams in the state.

2. Clearview -- The Pioneers didn’t lose much to graduation, and they’re a confident bunch coming into this season after narrowly losing to Delsea twice and beating Paulsboro last year. The VanBrill brothers, Zach Firestone and Ed Lenkowski are all among the best in the state. If the upper weights can improve, Clearview just might be able to topple Paulsboro again.

3. St. Augustine -- The Hermits are among the most intriguing teams in the state thanks to one wrestler -- Jack Clark -- a senior transfer from a Maryland boarding school who can’t take the mat until mid-January. The Prep has one of the most balanced lineups around, and the addition of Clark, the early favorite to win it all at 152 pounds, makes it a serious contender for No. 1 in South Jersey by the end of the season.

4. Shawnee -- The Renegades will try to follow up last year’s banner season with another one. Five 20-match winners return to the lineup, including 30-match winners Alex Foley and Brennan Humphrey. There was some turnover from graduation, but winning typically breeds more winning, and Shawnee did plenty of that last year.

5. Millville -- After setting a school record with 18 wins last winter, the Thunderbolts are looking to take the next step. Two state tournament qualifiers are back, and the rest of the lineup is solid. Ed Shockley has been talked about as an early dark horse as a state finalist, but the real story in Millville will be a strong lineup top to bottom.

6. Collingswood -- Nearly every starter is back for the Panthers, who quietly reached the sectional semifinals last year. There are eight returners who won at least 20 matches last year. Collingswood is another team with balance rather than overall star power.

7. Delsea -- The Crusaders return perhaps South Jersey’s best wrestler in defending state champion Bryan Dobzanski, but losing four 30-match winners to graduation brings a slight air of uncertainty. State tournament qualifier Vic De­France is also back, and Delsea has a way of reloading even after heavy graduation years.

8. Highland -- The Tartans were a bit of a surprise last year, but they won’t be sneaking up on anyone this winter. Highland was 22-4 last year, winning nine of its last 10 before bowing out of the playoffs. With five 25-match winners returning, the Tartans are primed for another strong season and could challenge Delsea in Group 2 South.

9. Cherokee -- Led by returning state place-winner Alex Baider, the Chiefs bring back 12 starters to a lineup that qualified for the Group 4 South playoffs last season.

10. Camden Catholic -- It’s hard to imagine the Irish ever being outside the Top 10, but the loss of T.J. Miller and Chad Walsh isn’t easy to swallow. Enough talent returns for Camden Catholic to be in the hunt for yet another Non-Public B state title, but it’s unlikely it has the firepower to roll with the top teams this winter.

11. Cherry Hill West -- It’s a balanced lineup for the Lions with only two district placers back. Look for Cherry Hill West to send a few more than that to regions this year, though.

12. Haddonfield -- The Bulldawgs are never a pushover, and this winter should be no different with 10 starters returning to the lineup.

13. Timber Creek -- The Chargers were hit as hard as anyone in South Jersey by graduation. Still, seven starters return, led by John Amato.

14. Cinnaminson -- Not a ton of household names in the Pirates’ lineup, but that didn’t stop them from winning 18 matches last year. This year could be a similar story.

15. Washington Twp. -- The Minutemen struggled out of the gates last year before getting healthy and eventually winning their last nine matches and barely missing out on qualifying for the Group 4 South playoffs due to a seeding rule technicality.